ANNUAL REPORT, 1941-42 11 



FOX: — The red variety of this species showed a remarkable increase, particularly in 

 southern Ontario during the period covered by this report. As a matter of fact the 

 total catch of 32,215 was more than double the catch of the previous year, and has not 

 been exceeded since the season of 1936-37. This condition resulted in the receipt of 

 many complaints from farmers to the effect that they were losing considerable num- 

 bers of their poultry due to the depredations of these predators and which complaints 

 influenced the Department to instruct field officers that no action was to be taken to 

 prevent trappers and hunters from taking foxes for a period of fifteen days following 

 the end of the regular open season, or until March 15th, 1942. This condition also re- 

 sulted in action by the Municipal Councils of some of the thickly settled townships in 

 the counties of Peel, York and Ontario to provide for the payment of a bounty on foxes 

 which were killed within the limits of such townships. While other varieties of wild 

 fox, — cross, silver or black and white, — are not nearly so numerous as are red fox, a 

 substantial increase in the seasonal catch of each variety was recorded. 



LYNX: — In this case there was also an increase recorded in the total catch reported 

 during the year, though the number taken was very srhall. They are trapped principally 

 in northern Ontario, and while there are reports of their existence in some scattered 

 portions of southern Ontario, in all sections the condition of this species can be des- 

 cribed only as extremely scarce. 



MARTEN: — As in the case of lynx these animals are extremely scarce and few of this 

 species are found other than in northern Ontario. Some small improvement is reported 

 from the district of Cochrane and the northern portion of the district of Algoma. There 

 was an increase in the season's catch. 



MINK: — Conditions as they affected this species showed improvement in practically 

 every section of the Province. While this improvement would no doubt result in a pro- 

 portional increase in the total catch during the open season which prevailed, to this 

 improvement could not be attributed in its entirety the very substantial increase 

 which was reported. The total catch of 63,996 mink represented an increase in excess 

 of sixty-four per cent as compared with the catch of the previous year. This total has 

 not been exceeded by the take of any one season since 1926. Exceptionally favourable 

 trapping conditions during the period of the open season were unquestionably very 

 largely responsible for this remarkable increase. 



MUSKRAT: — It is again possible to report that fairly satisfactory conditions prevailed 

 in respect to muskrat. While there were local increases and declines in the existing 

 numbers of these animals, generally speaking a normal average was maintained as is 

 indicated by the number trapped during the open season which was again provided by 

 Regulation. Different periods of open season were established to coincide with favour- 

 able weather conditions in the sections concerned. The principal source of general 

 revenue accruing to licensed trappers is derived from the sale of their muskrat pelts. 

 It has been calculated that trappers received the approximate sum of $1,445,000.00 from 

 muskrat pelts marketed by them, which-' was forty-five per cent of the estimated value 

 of the total catch of fur taken during the various open seasons of 1941-42. 



OTTER: — This species is not too plentiful in any section of Ontario, though there are 

 a few sections in the northern part of tlie Province from which improvement has been 

 reported. The number trapped during the open season was about average. 



RACCOON: — General conditions with reference to raccoon would appear to be deterior- 

 ating. They exist only in the lower section of the Province, and while the annual catch 

 showed an increase when compared with the figure for the previous year, this impres- 

 sion of improvement is not substantiated by the reports of our field officers, the majority 

 of whom advise that conditions are unchanged or that there has been some decrease 

 in their numbers. 



